Medical Bulletin 18/June/2025

Here are the top medical bulletins for the day:

The research team analyzed data from multiple sources, including the Epic Cosmos dataset - a comprehensive database with over 246 million patient records from hospitals and clinics across the U.S. and Lebanon. Additional validation came from smaller, richly detailed cohorts from the University of Iowa, Stanford University, and a large population-based cohort in Taiwan.

To better understand the biological mechanisms at play, the researchers developed two complementary mouse models of gestational hypertension. These models demonstrated that in-utero exposure to high blood pressure led to increased seizure sensitivity and mortality in offspring. The findings also highlighted the role of neuroinflammation and identified that male offspring were more vulnerable to seizures. “We were even able to reduce seizures in mice offspring with anti-inflammatory drugs based on what we learned from the model,” said Vinit Mahajan, MD, PhD, of Stanford University.

"The connection between high blood pressure in pregnant moms and seizures in children from these pregnancies had been postulated before, but never examined on a large scale, and never modeled in an animal," said Baojian Xue, PhD, first author and senior research scientist at UI. "With these new mouse models and this new connection between gestational hypertension and seizures, we can now perhaps come up with new childhood anti-seizure therapies."

Reference: J Clin Invest. 2025;135(12):e183393.https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI183393.

Study Reveals How Even Small Amounts of Arsenic in Water Are Risky for Pregnancy

A new study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that even low levels of arsenic in public drinking water-below the current federal safety standard-may be linked to adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birthweight. The study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Arsenic, a naturally occurring element, can seep into water supplies through contact with certain rocks and soils, as well as through contamination from industrial processes.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 14,000 mother-infant pairs participating in the ECHO Cohort. They estimated arsenic exposure by combining nationwide water quality data with participants’ residential histories during pregnancy. No direct testing of arsenic levels in the participants' bodies was conducted. The study found that higher arsenic exposure was associated with a greater risk of babies being born smaller than expected for their gestational age or at low birthweight. These associations were consistent across various racial and ethnic groups.

Importantly, babies born to Black parents were found to face higher risks of being born early, underweight, or smaller than expected-highlighting how environmental exposure may compound existing health disparities.

The findings emphasize the need to re-evaluate federal drinking water standards and call for additional public health measures to reduce arsenic exposure, even at currently “safe” levels.

Reference: Nigra AE, Bloomquist TR, Rajeev T, et al. Public Water Arsenic and Birth Outcomes in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(6):e2514084. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14084

Rheumatoid Arthritis Cases Rise by 13% Globally, Affecting Younger Populations: Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affected nearly 18 million people worldwide in 2021, marking a 13.2% increase in incidence since 1990, according to a new study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The study, part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, also found that Rheumatoid arthritis is becoming more prevalent among younger populations and across a broader geographic range.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, particularly the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The latest study analyzed data from more than 200 countries and territories between 1990 and 2021, offering one of the most detailed insights into Rheumatoid arthritis trends to date.

"In 2021, Rheumatoid arthritis affected 17.9 million people globally, with a 13.2 per cent increase in incidence rate from 1990–2021, trending younger and broader," the authors wrote. They attributed this rise in part to population growth, which influenced disease burden in countries like India, Pakistan, and Spain. In contrast, ageing was the dominant factor in countries such as Thailand, China, and Poland.

"While previous Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies have provided important insights, they have largely focused on high-level descriptions and visualisations at global and national scales, failing to capture local disparities or the dynamic interactions between socioeconomic development and disease trends," said Queran Lin, the study’s principal investigator from Imperial College London.

Interestingly, the burden was highest in regions with a high sociodemographic index (SDI), though these areas also began to see improvements. Japan, for instance, reduced Rheumatoid arthritis burden by over 22%, thanks to early diagnosis, access to biologic treatments, and an anti-inflammatory diet. Meanwhile, low- and middle-SDI regions are projected to see increased burden by 2040 due to ageing and population growth. The study emphasized that controlling smoking—particularly in high-prevalence areas like China—could reduce Rheumatoid arthritis -related deaths by 16.8% and decrease overall disease burden by over 20%.

Reference: Spatiotemporal distributions and regional disparities of rheumatoid arthritis in 953 global to local locations, 1980-2040, with deep learning-empowered forecasts and evaluation of interventional policies’ benefits, Jin, Wenyi et al., Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Volume 0, Issue 0